Wash-board



(:Model.)

G. H. WILLIAMS.

WASH BOARD. No. 255,555. v Patented Mar. 28,1882.

' l 'INVENTOR. WITNESSES:

tion of a wash-board.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 255,555, dated March 28, 1882.

Application filed February 10, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOHARLEs H. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oleveland, in the county of Gnyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wash-Boards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wash-boards, and more particularly in adapting to them a protector and at the same time a support.

My invention consists in the construction and combinationshereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a side view of the upper end see- Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the same.

A is one of the ordinary legs ofa wash-board, and O is the ordinary connecting back piece or branding-board for strengthening the board and to complete the usual soappocket, and D is a section of the board, upon which the corrugated zinc is placed. I construct my board with a cross-strengthening or head piece, B, which I make roundedon the outer surface, and at the upper edge I form a groove or look, I).

To the inner sides of the legs A, near their upper ends, I pivot the arms E E of my protector. These arms E are rounded at their lower ends, and connecting with their upper ends is a rounded supplemental protector, which also forms a support and is provided with means for engaging with the end board, whereby the pieces B and F become locked and a broad comfortable surface is secured. On the lower edge of this protector and crosspiece F, I form a tongue, 6, so that when the sections F and B are placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the tongue and groove I) and e constitute a firm and rigid lock. To permit this-t. e., the protector to be shifted-thelower ends of the arms E E are slotted for a short distance, as shown at 8, through which a screw, d, or a simple headless nail is passed from the inner side.

In order to close the protector into the board or remove it from the position shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to raise the tongue e (Model) from the groove 11 by drawing the protector slightly backward, or until the lower end of the slots comes in contact with the screw or nail d, which will then readily permit the protector to be pushed slightly forward and be dropped into its place. I usually attach the arms E to the piece F by dovetails, but they may be at tached in any other way.

By constructing the wash-board as herein before described I attain many advantages that are not found in other boards and overcome many disadvantages, whereby my protector is not liable to get out of order or become inoperative, and by this construction the cost of the board with this protector is but slightly increased.

The main object of this invention-is to form a broad surface for the operator or washerwoman to rest her body upon in the act of washing, which is a great convenience.

By forming the outer portions of the parts F and B on one and the same are of a circle, as shown in Fig. 1, the two form one continuous supporting-surface, and when locked together become as rigid and firm as though they were one and the same piece.

It will be seen that when the board is placed in proper position in the tub the rounded portion formed by the parts B and F is of the right contour in relation to the board and to the stooping or leaning position of the person using it to give easy and natural support to the body, as well as protection to the same from the splashing of the suds, which latter is the sole office of other protectors.

It will also'be observed that as the protector can be folded into the board it takes no additional room in packing, and the space for the soap is not materially lessened, so that the board can be used, whether the protector is desired or not, without hindrance or obstruction.

I am aware that other construction of tongue and groove, or even tenon and mortise, or any ordinary fastening device or look may be used to connect B and F, or hold them when in position, and I do not limit myself to any par ticular construction therefor but I prefer the construction herein shown.

I am aware that it is not new to attach a protector to a wash-board by means of slots and pins, and claim nothing therefor.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Awash-board provided with a cross-piece, B, in combination with a removable protectorpiece, F, and a locking device, whereby the protector and cross-piece may be brought together edge to edge and locked to form one continuous supporting-surface, as set forth.

2. A wash-board provided with a cross piece,

B, in combination with a removable protectorpiece, I the cross-piece or protector having interlocking devices on their adjacent edges, whereby the protector may be locked to the cross-piece and the two form one continuous surface, asand for the purpose set forth.

taining the protector in line with the crosspiece, and the pivotedund slotted arms E E, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the cross-piece B, provided with a groove, b, of the protector F, 25 provided with a tongue, 0, and the slotted and pivoted arms E E, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereby aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. MANDEVILLE, FRED. G. DIETERIGH. 

